Pneumatic track-sander.



I N0: 747,308. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903..

1. W. THOMAS. PNEUMATIC TRACK SANDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17; 1903'.

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P'ATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

J, W. THOMAS. PNEUMATIC TRACK SANDER.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17 1903.

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. UN TED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

P TENT OFFICE.

JAMES THOMAS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, Ass'ieNoR TO JOHN J.

MORGAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PN EU MATIC TRACK-SANDER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 747,308, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed September 17, 1903. Serial No. 173622. (No model.)

11) all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Track-Sanders, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in pneumatic track-sanders.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide means whereby when the sand-reservoir is in communication with the forward sand-discharge pipe communication with the rear sand-discharge pipe will be out off, or vice versa, to provide means for controlling the flow of air and sand to the forward and rear sand-discharge. pipes, and to provide means to prevent the sand from becoming packed in the sand-valve.

In the present track-sanders now in general use the sand-valve is in communication with both the rear and forward sand-discharge pipes at the same time, which has been found to be objectionable, as it has frequently happened that when the air is turned on to force the sand through the forward sand-discharge pipe the sand has become packed or hardened from being damp and subsequently dried and cuts off communication to the said forward sand discharge pipe, causing the sand flowing from the sand-reservoir to back up in the sand-valve and be discharged through the rear sand-discharge pipe, or vice versa. In my present invention I have overcome this objection by providing means,

whereby only one of the sand-discharge pipes is in communication with the sand-valve at one time and also by providing means to prevent the sand from being packed or hardened a detailed side elevation of the inner sleeve of the sand-valve, showing the ports for controlling communication of the air-pipes and sand-reservoir with the sand-discharge pipes. Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view showing the connection between the sanders on opposite 7 sides of the locomotive, the connecting-rod being broken away.

Similar reference-numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, 1 designates the sand-valve casing, the upper end of which is opened and screw-threaded on its inner surface to receivethe threaded end of the pipe 2, which latter isconnected at the opposite end to the sand-reservoir. The sand gravitates from the sand-reservoir 3 through the pipe 2 to the sand-valve.

The valve-casing 1 is provided with screwthreaded apertures 4 and 5, into which are screwed the air-jet nozzles 6 and 7, respectively, the said nozzles projecting into the sand-valve. These air-jet nozzles 6 and 7 are screw-threaded on their outer ends, to which are screwed the forward and rear airpipes 8 and 9, respectively. These air-pipes 8 and 9 are connected to the air-pipe 10, leading to the air-reservoir, and are provided with valves 11 and 12, respectively, to control the flow of air to the sand-valve. The said valvecasing 1 is also provided with the screwthreaded apertures 13 and 14, into which are screwed the forward and rear sand-discharge pipes 15and 16, respectively. The said sanddischarge pipes extend down close to the rail.

Within the valve-casing l is fitted a sleeve 17, open at its upper end and impinging against the shoulder 18 on the valve-casing. The lower end of the said sleeve 17 is closed and rests upon the cap 31, which latter is screw-threaded upon the lower end' of the casing 1. This sleeve 17 has an integral stem 19, which projects through the aperture 20 in the cap 31 and is provided with a square head 21. The sleeve 17 is provided with two elongated apertures 22 and 23, through which the air-jet nozzles 6 and 7, respectively, project and which permit of the said sleeve being reciprocated; also two ports 24 and25, adapted to register with the sand-discharge 7 rod 28. The other arm of the said bell-crank lever 26 is connected by a rod 29 to the lever 30 of the sander on the opposite side of the locomotive, the sanders on opposite sides of the locomotive being operated simultaneously by the lever 27.

It will be seen that by turning the sleeve 17 for the purpose of changing from the forward to the rear sander, or vice versa, the sand will be prevented from packing in the sand-valve, or should the said sleeve be left standing in one position for any length of time and the sand become packed the engineer can loosen the said sand by simply moving the lever 27 back and forth several times.

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to a steam-locomotive, it is obvious the same may be employed upon electric cars, &c., whenever air-pressure can be obtained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening for communication with the sand-reservoir, an opening for communication with the forward sand-discharge pipe, an opening for communication with the rear sand-discharge pipe, and two openings for communication with the twoair-delivery pipes; a sleeve fitted in the said casing and having two ports adapted to register with the sand-discharge pipes; and means for rotating said sleeve.

- 2. A pneumatic track-sander comprisinga casing having an opening for connection with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the forward sand-discharge pipe, an opening for connection with the rear sand discharge pipe; two air-jet nozzles projecting into the said casing, one opposite each sanddischarge pipe; a sleeve fitted in the said casing and having two ports adapted to register with the sand-discharge pipes, and two elongated apertures through which the air-jet nozzles project; and means for rotating said sleeve.

3. Apneumatic track-sander comprisinga casing having an opening for communication with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the forward sand-discharge-pipe, an opening for connection with the rearsanddischarge pipe, and two openings for connection with the two air-delivery pipes; a sleeve fitted in the said casing and having two ports adapted to register with the sand-discharge pipes, and astem projecting through said casing; and means attached to said stem for rotating said sleeve.

4. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening for connection with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the forward sand-discharge pipe, an opening for connection with the rear sanddischarge pipe, and two openings for the airjet nozzles; a sleeve fitted within the said casing and having two ports adapted to register with the sand-discharge pipes, and two elongated apertures through which the airjet nozzles project; two air-jet nozzles secured in the casing and projecting into the said sleeve; and means for rotating said sleeve.

5. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening for connection with the sand-reservoir, an opening for connection with the forward sand-discharge pipe, an opening for connection with the rear sanddischarge pipe, and two openings for connection with the air-delivery pipes;,a sleeve fitted within-the said casing and having two ports adapted to register with the sand-discharge pipes, a stem integral therewith and projecting through the casing; a bell-crank lever fitted upon the said stem; 3. rod connecting one arm of said bell-crank lever with the sander on the opposite side of the locomotive; and means connected to the other arm for rotating said sleeve.

6. A pneumatic track-sander comprising a casing having an opening for connection with the sand-reservoir, two openings for connection with the sand-discharge pipes, and two openings for the air-jet nozzles; two air-jet nozzles projecting into said casing; a cap removably secured to the lower end of the said casing and having an aperture therein; a sleeve fitted within the said casing and having an integral stem projecting through the aperture in said cap, two ports adapted to register with the sand'discharge pipes, said ports being so arranged that when one is in communication with its respective sand-discharge pipe the other will be thrown out of communication, and two elongated apertures through which the air-jet nozzles project; and means connected to the said stem for rotating the sleeve, whereby the sand-reservoir can be brought into communication with either the forward or rear sand-discharge pipes.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES \V. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

HUGH A. NORMAN, CHAPIN A. FERGUSON. 

